Edwardsville Township seeks new offices

EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville Township is continuing its search for a new headquarters.

The township recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) for redevelopment of the Hays Mallory Community Building located at 216 Crane St. in Edwardsville, in which the township has its office, and township officials remain in discussion with administrators from the city of Edwardsville about possibly relocating to the city’s new public safety facility as well.

Both options are being explored after the current building was found to be inadequate. The building was temporarily closed last year after it was found to have serious safety and health code violations, and a Facility Planning Committee has deemed the building not economically or functionally viable. The committee included local architects, planners and financial professionals.

Township administrator Jeanne Wojcieszak said officials from the township continue to talk with Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton and city representative about housing the township office in the city’s new public safety facility, which is in the process of being built at Schwarz and Plum streets in Edwardsville.

“I have talked about this issue for some time with Mayor Patton and with their project getting really underway, now is the time we need to discuss some options,” Edwardsville Township supervisor Frank Miles said earlier this month. “It is a logical next step in developing a closer partnership between local government and the township.”

The other possibility is redeveloping the aging Hays Mallory building. Wojcieszak said RFPs recently went out, and proposals from developers were expected Monday.

One option that is no longer being discussed is building a new facility. Miles said the township looked into selling the current site and constructing a new building, possibly at the Edwardsville Township Community Park, but the only way that would have been a financially viable option is if the township was able to secure grant money from the state. That potential grant money is no longer available, Miles said, and selling bonds or raising taxes to fund the project was never a consideration, effectively ending the discussion.

“Because the loss of these matching state grants would require raising the tax levy, or issuing bonds, the option of building a township office at the park is no longer a possibility,” Miles wrote in a letter to the Telegraph. “Raising the tax levy or issuing bonds for construction of an office building at the park has not been an option under consideration in any meeting or action of the Board.”

The next Facility Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. Township officials will be meeting with city officials on the second floor of Edwardsville City Hall.

The Township Board meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Madison County Farm Bureau. The next meet is Tuesday, Sept. 22.

All information regarding board and committee meetings — agendas, minutes, board packets, reports — is available at www.edwardsvilletownship.com. Committees are listed under Township Supervisor and board packets are under Township Clerk.

Nathan Grimm may be reached at 618-208-6451 or on Twitter @GrimmTelegraph.

By Nathan Grimm

ngrimm@civitasmedia.com

Nathan Grimm may be reached at 618-208-6451 or on Twitter @GrimmTelegraph.